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novapsycheTenn. Prosecutor Probes Police Tactics
Police have paid confidential informants thousands of dollars to engage in sexual encounters with prostitutes as part of a crackdown on the sex business in Nashville, drawing criticism from the top prosecutor.
Police spent almost $120,000 over three years to foster the encounters, which involve sexual touching and sometimes more. The evidence has helped the city close more than 35 businesses believed to be selling sex and disconnect phone lines to about 100 escort services.
While acknowledging the importance of busting prostitutes, the top prosecutor says the informants are going too far.
"Certainly, having video and audiotapes of the transactions is valuable," District Attorney General Torry Johnson said. "But going beyond that once the transaction has been completed is unnecessary from our point of view and is a little contradictory in letting the confidential informant engage in the very act you're trying to stamp out."
Police are standing by their investigation methods, saying informants often have to get nude to make arrests.
"What's the greater good?" asked Capt. Todd Henry, who heads the department's specialized investigations division. "It may be distasteful to some people, but it's better that we have those places shut down."
Police pay informants about $300 for up to three prostitution "buys," and an extra $100 for each additional transaction, department officials said.
A certain amount of sexual touching is usually necessary to show that the money being paid by the informant is clearly in exchange for a sexual act and repeat encounters are required to show a pattern of prostitution, Henry said.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said some confidential informants have mistakenly progressed too far in interactions with prostitution suspects.
"But that in no way takes away from or negates the successes we've had in scores of cases," he said.
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Actually, I feel it's much more efficacious to crack down on the purchasers of sex--there's a lot more of them, and it is their demand that encourages supply.
Of course, I'm all about decriminalizing prostitution, so in truth I think this whole enterprise is rather silly.
Police have paid confidential informants thousands of dollars to engage in sexual encounters with prostitutes as part of a crackdown on the sex business in Nashville, drawing criticism from the top prosecutor.
Police spent almost $120,000 over three years to foster the encounters, which involve sexual touching and sometimes more. The evidence has helped the city close more than 35 businesses believed to be selling sex and disconnect phone lines to about 100 escort services.
While acknowledging the importance of busting prostitutes, the top prosecutor says the informants are going too far.
"Certainly, having video and audiotapes of the transactions is valuable," District Attorney General Torry Johnson said. "But going beyond that once the transaction has been completed is unnecessary from our point of view and is a little contradictory in letting the confidential informant engage in the very act you're trying to stamp out."
Police are standing by their investigation methods, saying informants often have to get nude to make arrests.
"What's the greater good?" asked Capt. Todd Henry, who heads the department's specialized investigations division. "It may be distasteful to some people, but it's better that we have those places shut down."
Police pay informants about $300 for up to three prostitution "buys," and an extra $100 for each additional transaction, department officials said.
A certain amount of sexual touching is usually necessary to show that the money being paid by the informant is clearly in exchange for a sexual act and repeat encounters are required to show a pattern of prostitution, Henry said.
Police spokesman Don Aaron said some confidential informants have mistakenly progressed too far in interactions with prostitution suspects.
"But that in no way takes away from or negates the successes we've had in scores of cases," he said.
--
Actually, I feel it's much more efficacious to crack down on the purchasers of sex--there's a lot more of them, and it is their demand that encourages supply.
Of course, I'm all about decriminalizing prostitution, so in truth I think this whole enterprise is rather silly.
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Date: 2005-02-03 01:21 am (UTC)